Bobbi Schroeppel on workforce trends
From NorthWestern Energy's The Outlet, Bobbi Schroeppel, VP Customer Care, Communications & HR · · NorthWestern Energy
“Since the Great Recession of 2008, retirement ages have shifted later, and during COVID we predicted steady waves of retirements. However, our applicant pools are very strong now, and we're even hiring more than expected for some roles like linemen.”
On , Bobbi Schroeppel, Vice President of Customer Care, Communications & Human Resources at NORTHWESTERN ENRGY GROUP INC, spoke about workforce trends during NorthWestern Energy's The Outlet, Bobbi Schroeppel, VP Customer Care, Communications & HR on NorthWestern Energy.
About Bobbi Schroeppel
Bobbi Schroeppel, Vice President of Customer Care, Communications & Human Resources at NorthWestern Energy, discussed the company's workforce and operational strategies in a podcast released April 17, 2025. She noted that retirement ages have shifted later since the Great Recession of 2008 and that applicant pools are currently strong, with the company hiring more than expected for roles such as linemen. Schroeppel stated that the work-from-home model for customer service agents adopted during COVID-19 has expanded recruiting, with agents now located across Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, and beyond. She also described the company's use of AI and job boards for recruitment and said that when smart meters were implemented, the company worked with displaced meter readers to find them new roles with comparable or better pay. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Schroeppel participated in virtual town halls in 2020 where she outlined NorthWestern Energy's response. She said the company moved 100 customer service representatives to work from home within a couple of weeks and classified employees as mission essential, critical, necessary, or as needed. Schroeppel stated that the company decided not to terminate any customers and instead offered flexible payment arrangements, including potential credits for those who met 12-month payment plans. She also noted that the company gave away approximately $2 million annually in shareholder funds to communities, with an additional $300,000 allocated during the pandemic for programs including small business grants. Schroeppel added that the company kicked off a community sustainability working group and created an internal sustainability director position reporting to her.